Part 2 (1/2)
”That's true.”
Not far off was a narrow window, the panes of gla.s.s of which had long since been broken out. Moving toward this, Joe peered into the apartment beyond.
Close to an old fireplace, in which a few sticks of half-green timber were burning, sat two men. Both were well dressed, and Joe rightfully surmised that they were from the city. Each wore a hunting outfit and had a gun, but neither had any game.
”We came on a wild-goose chase,” grumbled one, as he stirred the fire.
”Got nothing but a soaking for our pains.”
”Never mind, Malone,” returned the other, who was evidently the better educated of the two. ”As we had to make ourselves scarce in the city this was as good a place to come to as any.”
”Don't you think they'll look for us here?”
”Why should they? We were sharp enough not to leave any trail behind--at least, I was.”
”Reckon I was just as sharp, Caven.”
”You had to be--otherwise you would have been nabbed.” Gaff Caven chuckled to himself. ”We outwitted them nicely, I must say. We deserve credit.”
”I've spent more than half of what I got out of the deal,” went on Pat Malone, for such was the full name of one of the speakers.
”I've spent more than that. But never mind, my boy, fortune will favor us again in the near future.”
A crash of thunder drowned out the conversation following, and Joe hurried back to where he had left Ned.
”Well, have you found out who they are?” demanded the rich youth, impatiently.
”No, Ned, but I am sure of one thing.”
”What is that?”
”They are two bad men.”
”What makes you think that?”
”They said something about having to get out of the city, and one spoke about being nabbed. Evidently they went away to avoid arrest.”
At this announcement Ned Talmadge whistled softly to himself.
”Phew! What shall we do about it?” he asked, with a look of concern on his usually pa.s.sive face.
Joe shrugged his shoulders.
”I don't know what to do.”
”Let us listen to what they have to say. Maybe we'll strike some clew to what they have been doing.”
”Would that be fair--to play the eaves-dropper?”
”Certainly--if they are evildoers. Anybody who has done wrong ought to be locked up for it,” went on Ned boldly.